Combined spoke-fastener and tire-tightener.



No. 696,458] Patented Apr.- I, ||902.'

E. LEVEILLE.

, conamzn SPOKE'FASTE'NER AND TIRE TIGHTENEB.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

. lower end I) of a bolt B,

to marine amen ents,

ENGER LEVEILLE, OF GRINDSTONE, MAINE.

COMBINED SPOKE FASTIENER AND TIRE- TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 696,458, dated April 1,1902. Application filed August 24, 1901. Serial No; 73,120. (No model.)

To ctZZ whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENGER LEVEILLE, a citi= zen of the United States,residing at Grindstone, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine,have invented a new and useful Combined Spoke-Fastener andTire-Tightener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in spokefasteners and tire-tighteners,and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device foradjustably connecting a spoke to the rim of a wheel and by which thewear may be taken up as the occasion requires.

Another feature of my improvement is to provide a washer which acts as acushion, whereby the wear is automatically taken up and the noiseincident to the wear of a spoke is avoided; and with these objects inview my improvement also consists in the peculiar construction and novelarrangement and combination, as will be fully described in the followingspecification, and pointed out in the claim, reference being had to thedrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents an elevation of a portion ofaWheel constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detailtransverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the tire ofa wheel with my improvement shown in elevation and adjusted to take upthe Wear or fitted to a short spoke. Fig. 4 is a detail section takenabout on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are details ofthe several parts detached.

My invention is applicable to wheels of ordinary construction and may bereadily applied thereto without requiring a great departure from theordinary arrangements of parts; and it consists of a ferrule or thimbleA, having a portion of its exterior provided with a wrench-surface, asshown at a, the interior of the ferrule being of the same borethroughout its entire length, with the upper portion terminating inscrew-threads a, that are adapted for engagement by the threaded theupper shank portion Z) of which being of a smaller diameter than thethreaded end and has its surface provided with ribs Z2 the said reducedportion being adapted to fit a corresponding recess produced in thefelly of the rim, the ribs being designed to prevent the bolt turning inthe felly when the ferrule is being adjusted. The upper surface of thethreaded portion forms a shoulder that rests against the inner surfaceof the felly, as shown. As before stated, the interior of the ferrule isof the same diameter and in the lower end of which the outer end of aspoke is fitted. Awasher or cushion O, of rubber or other elasticmaterial, is inserted within the ferrule between the end of the spokeand the bolt B, that is designed to form a cushion and prevent therattling noise of the spoke when it becomes worn.

In applying my invention to a wheel it is only necessary to insert thereduced end in the felly and slip the ferrule over the end of the spoke.Then insert the cushion, and the device is ready to be screwed inposition, which requires but a short time, and there- 'fore saves muchexpense in the operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the Q device is exceedinglysimple, consisting of only two parts besides the Washer, and. when awheel is so equipped the slack or wear may be taken up without requiringthe services of an experienced workman.

Having thus fully described my invention,- what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the kind described, the combination of a felly having anopening formed therein, a bolt having a threaded portion and a reducedcylindrical shank extending therefrom that is adapted to fit within theopening in the felly, ribs formed upon the said reduced portion, aferrule having a wrench-surface formed upon the exterior thereof, theinterior of said ferrule having a bore of even diameter throughout itsentire length and having one end terminating in a threaded portion, of aspoke adapted to fit within the said ferrule, and an elastic cushioninterposed within the said ferrule between the end of the spoke andbolt, substantially as shown and described.

EN GER LEVEILLE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. SrEARNs, CLINTON E. STEVENS.

